Simon...you are an absolutely FANTASTIC teacher...so thoughtful in making sure we get the best views of what you are trying to show.....** My short term goal is to make it to one of your workshops.....Hope you have a few next year..~!
Surely you have learned by now that shellac it dissolved by alcohol. Shellac is used to create a "French polish" finish on fine woodwork. Also used as a stain block over pine knots under house paint. Quite wonderful stuff.
Thank you for this demonstration. A while ago I tried the same with some kind of glue. But it didn't last that long, I had to be very careful so I wouldn't wipe it all away. I will try it with shellac soon, looks much better to work with. Can't wait to see your finished bowls!
I watched this being done with a glaze then shallac then wiped. The glass stayed under the shallac. Didn't see it fired but I must get testing. Looks great.
Hi Simon, thank you for all your videos, I would just like to suggest that you could paint grass with grass, like the Indian potters in a Jane Perryman book, they make their own brushes from different types of grass.
Simon, I love the grasses on this bowl that you demonstrated. I wonder if you have thought about first doing the heads of the grass in shellac and then sponging the post and then shellac in the stems of the grasses and sponging off...you would have more relief...could prove to be quite wonderful. Thanks for the demo. (have you seen my post about your visit to SLC at papillonpots.com ?)
I was thinking how interesting it would be if you did the brush work first, then sponged, then did the sponge on a stick bit, then sponged again to get a series of layers. Can't wait to see them glazed.
Varnish might take a long time to harden, whereas shellac is dry in a moment. Either one is combusted away early in the bisque firing. Shellac may be hard to find as it is out of favor in big box stores. Zinser is the most common brand. I use dried shellac liquified with denatured or fuel alcohol.
Hope that tin is not too old - shellac in liquid form becomes unusable after a year or two: it stays sticky and will not set. But it will always dissolve in alcohol (meths) so crusty old brushes can easily be washed out.
+Karl Kalbaugh Aha you got me there ! ...not sure to be honest as i bisque in a gas kiln. It is a good and valid question though. Anyone out there know ?
+Simon Leach Yes, you can do that. I know some people who do and I myself will give it a try this weekend. Alternative you can use water-based glue (I think it's called mod podge). There are videos on youtube. But I gave it a try once and it didn't stay very long when wiping the piece with a sponge. But maybe it just was clumsy me. ;-)
+Karl Kalbaugh It worked! The first-try-teapot might not work, but the shellac did! ;-) tonstoerung.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/schelllackteapot2.jpg tonstoerung.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/schelllackdivers.jpg
